Music Festivals: Summer and Beyond

Tour Hosts Review By Leigh Posted on Adventure

From the great halls of Europe to the rainforest of Borneo, this month’s issue is all about the melody of life. Music, from man’s earliest beating of drums to communicate and warn, to the elaborate arrangements of the world’s most spectacular symphonies, the soundtrack of life revolves around the need to create, emote and connect.

Music soothes the mind and soul, inspires and enlightens. This month we travel the globe in search of opera, chamber music, classical festivals, traditional music and as good old-time rock ‘n’ roll.

Join this month’s tour hosts as they introduce us to the great variety of festivals and events that will stir the blood and enrapture the senses.

This month's tour hosts review:
Dailey-Thorp Travel, LLC Pick of the Month
Location: Europe and USA
Specialty: Opera Tours
Why We Like Them: Over a 30-year span, Dailey-Thorp Travel has provided deluxe escorted opera tours throughout Europe and the United States. Recently reacquired by the company’s founder, Mary Dailey, Dailey-Thorp is back as the head of its class, offering a stunning array of trips, from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to St. Petersburg, Russia, while providing outstanding service and commitment to travelers who love opera. Specialties include signature “New York Weekends,” where travelers enjoy great performances at the Metropolitan Opera and all the other delights of this great city. A commitment to excellence and outstanding service and Mary’s dedication to her company, earns Dailey-Thorp Travel the May issue’s honor as Pick of the Month.
 
Herzerl Tours division of Omnifics Assoc., Inc.
Location: Austria
Specialty: Austrian Culture: music, art and culinary
Why We Like Them:  Austrian-born Susanne Marie Servin’s frequent contributions to The Cultured Traveler allow our readers to get a great look into what wonders Austria has to offer. Whether you are looking to join one of her scheduled departures, like “The Sounds of Austrian Music,” or prefer a custom-designed independent trip, Susanne is dedicated to introducing all her clients to the delights of her native Austrian culture by using local streetcars for transportation and having them meet with her local family and friends.
Article: Austria’s Summer Delights
 
Earthbound Expeditions
Location: Eastern Europe
Specialty: Small-group cultural tours
Why We Like Them: “Hands on and determined to make each trip special,” is how one traveler described her trip with Earthbound Expeditions. Since she choose to travel with them again only a few months later, I guess they succeeded. Founder Matthew Brumley’s passion for his tours is contagious, and with the company’s small-group departures and its “hub-and-spoke” feature, travelers stay a minimum of three nights at most destinations, making for leisurely and stress-free trips. Musical options include such themes as “Regal Russia,” “Eastern Europe, a Classical Ensemble” and “ A Festive Winter Waltz.” For more on that last one, read Matthew’s article.
Article: Cool, Crowd-Free Continent
 
Music and Markets
Location: Netherlands, France and the Czech Republic
Specialty: Music and markets of Europe
Why We Like Them: By combining two great themes, Anne and Kirk Woodyard allow travelers to indulge a range of senses through great food, shopping, and some of Europe’s best music festivals. Such delights as Prague’s Spring Festival, Jazz in Italy and Amsterdam’s wonderful Canal Festival are just a few of this year’s tempting trips. From great castles to intimate gardens, the settings are sure to inspire and the music is sure to please.
Article: Music Festival Gems
 
Chamber Music Holidays and Festivals
Location: Europe, Corfu (Greece) and Thailand
Specialty: Chamber music and festivals
Why We Like Them: With more than 23 years experience creating trips to some of the most outstanding chamber music venues throughout Europe, Vivienne Pittendrigh has the knack for pleasing chamber music lovers. Many of her trips feature a festival within a festival where local and international groups indulge their passions concurrently but independently. This means musical tour participants are encouraged to join in with open coaching in the mornings and freelance playing at other times. The “Divertimenti in Corfu'” festival Vivienne created in 1991 is the theme for her article.
Article: Chamber Music on a Greek Island
 
Travel for the Arts
Location: Europe and beyond
Specialty: Opera and music festivals
Why We Like Them: Providing one of the most astonishing array of festivals and performances listed anywhere, Travel for the Arts has short breaks and local weekends departing from London, as well as longer trips to events across the Continent. Deluxe accommodations, knowledgeable guides and the best seats in the house assure a fantastic trip for opera and music lovers. For those preferring to travel independently, the company’s “Opera a la Carte” service can arrange  custom design trips based on personal choices of events.